Range Rover Evoque scores as most popular Premiership Footballer's Car

Evoque comes top of a league table of luxury cars bought by footballers, compiled by premium vehicle finance experts JBR Capital

In addition to the Evoque, the Top 10 is dominated by supercars and high-end models, featuring two Lamborghinis, the McLaren 675LT, Ferrari F12 and Porsche 911, as well as bespoke and coachbuilt SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz Onyx G6 GLE Coupe

Footballers increasingly buying cars on finance for reasons of flexibility

They may earn an average salary of £2.4m* a year but the most popular car for a premiership footballer is the Range Rover Evoque, a compact SUV which costs from around £30,000. Yet whatever the purchase, footballers are increasingly using finance to do it.

That’s according to a new list compiled by premium vehicle finance provider JBR Capital, which can count a wide variety of high net worth individuals as its clients, including premiership players. It has put together a top 10 of the most popular cars purchased on finance by premiership players over the last two years. While the relatively affordable Evoque finishes in first place, the top 10 shows that players don’t hold back when it comes to filling their garages with dream machines, with the rest of the line-up chock full of supercars, luxury cars and even bespoke creations from aftermarket coachbuilders and tuning companies:

1. Range Rover Evoque

2. Lamborghini Aventador

3. Mercedes-Benz Onyx G6 GLE Coupe

4. Bentley Continental GT

5. Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

6. Lamborghini Huracan

7. Jeep Wrangler Kahn Sahara

8. Porsche 911 GTS

9. Bentley Bentayga

10. McLaren 675LT Spider

With enormous means at their disposal, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that JBR Capital found that players each own several cars on the list – such as an Evoque and an Aventador – but what will raise eyebrows is that finance is an increasingly important way to fund purchases.

Darren Selig, CEO and Co-Founder at JBR Capital, explained:

“The highest-earning premiership players can bring in six-figure salaries each week and could buy many of the cars on this list easily without finance, but like regular motorists, it pays to be smart and they are increasingly savvy in their financial affairs. Footballers want the monthly cost of the loan to be as low as possible, so they can remain flexible. They would rather spend large sums on investments such as property, and do not want to over-extend their budget with outright purchases. They also generally run finance deals from 2 to 4 years, as these allow them the most flexibility.”

Arranging finance involves paying an initial deposit and then making regular monthly payments, taking advantage of highly competitive rates. At the end of the term, the customer can then choose to pay the final balloon payment and own the car outright or refinance to buy another. According to JBR Capital’s research, it’s the latter that premiership footballers invariably choose. Footballers also need a fast turnaround. If they see a car, they want to buy it almost immediately – and a highly specialist finance provider such as JBR Capital offers them this facility, paying out very large sums of money quickly.

Loaning large sums of money to sportspeople can often be more difficult than it looks, though. “Many finance companies don’t loan to footballers given the up and down nature of their business,” added Selig. “It’s a cut-throat world and your contract could be torn up at any moment. The flipside to that, of course, is that you could find yourself with a new contract with a club in Spain or Germany – so again you need the flexibility that finance provides.”

“We ensure loans are affordable and meet a player’s unique needs. We don’t use a ‘cookie cutter’ approach like some lenders, so can work with each client directly and tailor the finance package appropriately. But whether it’s a Range Rover Evoque, a Ferrari F12 or a Bentley Bentayga, for a premiership footballer, finance just works.”